Best Full-Function Preamplifier

Hi: this is 3160 information and the 3180 is even better not for a very wide margin because at this top quality level is not an easy task to outperforms audio units but we think we did it and I'm ejoying:

 

https://www.canva.com/design/DAFqOWFzXvc/nvbyzIw8OxcENDf_Vb5emg/view?utm_content=DAFqOWFzXvc&utm_campaign=designshare&utm_medium=link&utm_source=publishsharelink

 

R.

 

 

Dear @dodgealum  and analog friends: I think that this thread is really more important that what we could think and this is my " understanding " about:

 

Why? because we invest money and a lot of time to fine tunning each one of us analog rig: TT/Tonearm/cartridge overall set up trying to achieve top overall MUSIC reproduction enjoyment and if we really want to achieve that top MUSIC enjoymentt we have ( a must to. ) to be extremely carefully what to do with that cartridge - signal to preserve its whole INTEGRITY  and the very first step is to choose the " rigth " phono stage and line stage that permits that kind of achivement.

Not an easy task and certainly not with separates units for several reasons as the ones that posted lew and atmas. Of course that after the whole cartridge signal process inside phono/line stages room/amps/speakers/cables is the second step but this issue is not for this thread.

To preserve the cartridge signal and everything the same that signal needs to pass not only through the different circuit stages ( gain, RIAA and again " gain "  ) but through short circuit layout paths  and these single reasons could be the foundation why we need a full-fuction preamp.

Now, any pono manufacturer/designer knows the very hard task in the phono stage design when is need it to has a gain that could goes up to over 8K times the very LOMC cartridge level and that high gain must be do it with very low noise/distortions.

This high gain/low noise task combination is a true nigthmare where that cartridge integrity could be severly damaged because you can't do it using only one circuit gain step ( designer choices are passive gain or active high gain. I am for active high gain.) and because that very low level audio signal is surrounded my several internal/external contamination sources ( EMF, RF, etc, etc., active parts, transformers, etc, etc ) but this is only one of the main targets of any phono stage the other is that the cartridge signal must pass through that " terrible Himalaya " named inverse RIAA eq. that means an equalization around from -20db to +20db from 20hz to 20khz ( it's not exactly that but only to have an idea. ) and when that valuable and sensible cartridge signal pass through that RIAA whole process not only must pass with added/losted noise/distortions at MINIMUM but with almost NO Frequency Response deviation: this is that response must be flat from 20hz-20khz that's imposible to achieve it in the analog domain.

Best phono stages are around 0.05db to 0.1db FR deviation. This could makes a difference on the quality level? sure makes a differences because the RIAA is a curve and any deviation at any single discrete frequency affects almost 2 octaves and this means higher colorations to that cartridge signal.

Now, suppose that the cartridge signal comes out with MINIMUM added/losted " distortions " ( something ideal. ) now that signal needs more gain level for the amplifiers can hadled that " original " cartridge signal and this main overall third step in the full-function preamp even that's a little more easy than the past 2 main steps it's and has the same critical importance because inside this line stage the signal needs more gain with low noise and not " added/losted " colorations/distortions.

As in the 2 first steps here in the line stage the preamp design must be first rate and nothing less than that. Phono and line stage have the same critical importance to achieve the final target in our room/system: MUSIC TOP QUALITY ENJOYMENT.

 

Last step but not least is the external Power Supply that must be top design too to " send " clean, low noise, no contaminated with true high overload levels electrical supply to the different preamp stages.

As the other preamp stages here exist different challenges for the manufacturer/designer. The 3180  Power Supply comes with the main power cord input and 3 other inputs that are the umblical ones: 1 for the left channel, 1 for the rigth channel and the third one for the logic control circuit card/stage. We try to don't let nothing at " random " and that's why the unit can't be overloaded under any play " scenario ".

 

Inside different price ranges in the audio market no two preamps sounds similar due that designers choices were/are differents  not only in active/pasive parts,  circuit boards layouts, way of tests over the preamp, but the choosed trade-offs ( nothing is perfect. ) in the overall preamp design at each single stage.

 

Any phono stage customer needs to know that several phono stages that are in the market and that offer inputs for MC and MM cartridges  does not comes with separated MC and MM stages but use/share the same phono stage circuit when electrically the MC performs way better with active gain bipolar devices and MM with FET devices. MC can runs with FET? yes but it's not optimal when we are looking for the " best ".

 

Yes we ( José and I ) designed the Essential ful-function fully balanced and fully discrete preamp starting 15 years ago with the 3150 model followed by the 3160 ( that @lewm  own ) and today the Essential 3180.

Our unit is custom made on custom order and we really are not in the audio market and do not compete with the preamps in the market.

What we want is only to share with a few MUSIC lovers what we achived taking in count that we have a true passion for MUSIC ( hardwer is only a tool to enjoy MUSIC. ) and we took the overall work design/manufacture of the Essential due that what existed and exist in the audio market even that are very fine units just does not satisfy our and MUSIC demanding targets to really be " there ".

Btw, it's a little weird/curios that the 8-10 Essential owners all were tube lovers when our unit is a full SS.

We think that the 3180 has no real signature ( tube/SS/analitical, warm and the like ) other than wake up in us that alive emotions that only MUSIC can does when reproduced in the " rigth " enviroment.

 

We will make only a few 3180 for the " lucky " gentlemans that have the " rare " opportunity to own it.

 

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.

Dear @dodgealum : Essential 3180 that’s a true challenge for over 120K separates units like FM Acoustics or CH and better than Boulder or Dartzeel and the like. It's an active high gain balanced dual mono non-feedback fully discrete overall design with 2 totally  separates phono stages : MM/MC and second to none line stage.

 

@lewm that I think you know as a very well regarded Agoner owns the Essential 3160 and I hope he could chime here about and the interesting main issue behind the 3180 is that is a full-function design with the stages facilities you are looking for that comes with external power supply.

You can contact rauliruegas@hotmail.com

 

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.